diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/synths.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/synths.dm
index 7c27c09ec80..044df98e047 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/synths.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/synths.dm
@@ -11,10 +11,15 @@
 	meat = null
 	damage_overlay_type = "synth"
 	limbs_id = "synth"
-	var/list/initial_species_traits = list(NOTRANSSTING) //for getting these values back for assume_disguise()
-	var/list/initial_inherent_traits = list(TRAIT_VIRUSIMMUNE,TRAIT_NODISMEMBER,TRAIT_NOLIMBDISABLE,TRAIT_NOHUNGER,TRAIT_NOBREATH)
 	var/disguise_fail_health = 75 //When their health gets to this level their synthflesh partially falls off
-	var/datum/species/fake_species = null //a species to do most of our work for us, unless we're damaged
+	var/datum/species/fake_species //a species to do most of our work for us, unless we're damaged
+	var/list/initial_species_traits //for getting these values back for assume_disguise()
+	var/list/initial_inherent_traits
+	
+/datum/species/synth/New()
+	initial_species_traits = species_traits.Copy()
+	initial_inherent_traits = inherent_traits.Copy()
+	..()
 
 /datum/species/synth/military
 	name = "Military Synth"
@@ -124,4 +129,4 @@
 		else
 			return ..()
 	else
-		return ..()
\ No newline at end of file
+		return ..()